ORDER RANUNCULACEJ2. 351 



marked that their form is simpler at the upper part of the stem 

 than near the root ; the lobes or chief divisions being narrow, 

 and not themselves divided, in the former case ; whilst in the 

 latter they are more expanded, and their edges are deeply cleft. 

 At the bottom of the flower-stalk may be observed a couple of 

 small leafy bodies, which are the bracts (. 457). These, as 

 formerly stated, are intermediate in character between the true 

 leaves and the leafy portions of the flower ; and of this fact the 

 species under observation affords a remarkable illustration. Two 

 specimens, pulled at random from the nearest field, are now 

 before the writer ; in one the bracts are simple in their form, like 

 the sepals of the calyx ; in the other they are cleft into three 

 lobes, and more resemble ordinary leaves. 



506. Now the foregoing characters are those, by which the 

 order RANUNCULACE.E is separated from other tribes ; but they 

 are not all presented by every plant which, on account of its 

 general resemblance, is placed in the same group with the com- 

 mon Crowfoot. For example, there are some which have 3 or 

 6 sepals in their calyx, instead of 5, the regular number. The 

 petals, again, are sometimes more numerous than 5, and some- 

 times altogether wanting. The number of stamens is quite 

 indefinite. That of the styles is also variable, since the styles of 

 the different carpels may unite into a single one, or into a small 

 number, or may remain (as in the common Ranunculus) entirely 

 distinct. The number of seeds in each carpel is not restricted to 

 one. It will be asked then, what are the essential characters 

 by which this natural group is marked ? They are simply these. 

 The stamens are numerous, and arise from the disk beneath the 

 carpels ; and the carpels are themselves distinct.* The struc- 

 ture of the other parts of the flower may or may not be con- 

 formable to that of the common Ranunculus ; and it is in fact by 

 the minor variations, that the order is subdivided into genera. 

 The greatest apparent resemblance of the flowers of this group, 



* This last character is occasionally subject to exception, the carpels being more 

 or less united in some species ; but other characters of resemblance then come to 

 the assistance of the Botanist, and enable him to determine the place of these 

 epecies in the order. 



